Inside Mexico's Juarez Valley – one of the deadliest places on earth

18-foot high fences separate Juarez Valley from American state of Texas Vigilante forces who opposed 'Sinaloa' cartel were tortured and beheaded 'You get used to seeing dead bodies in the street,' says one local resident Pictures of murdered relatives sent to families who failed to pay ransom One man heard his kidnapped daughter, 17, being raped 'down the phone' The police officers who were executed in 2009 have never been replaced Only 5,000 of its 60,000 original inhabitants have dared to remain

By Alasdair Baverstock In Mexico City For Mailonline

Published: 04:07 EST, 21 January 2015 | Updated: 05:02 EST, 21 January 2015

The Juarez Valley on the Mexico-Texas border, a forty mile stretch of cotton fields and ghost towns, is so dangerous that even the police don't dare to enter.

Situated to the east of Juarez City a town which held the title of the world's most violent for three consecutive years the criminal cartels in 'Murder Valley' run drugs, weapons and illegal immigrants across the border, murdering in cold blood anyone who interferes with their business.

Today the Juarez Valley, which runs along the Rio Grande and is just a stone's throw from the eighteen-foot fence on the US border, sees more death and violence than anywhere else in North America. It has even been suggested that it could be the deadliest place on Earth

Scroll down for videos

Death: Gravestones line the streets of Juarez City, where kidnap and murder are a daily reality

Ghost town: The town of Pradexis Guadalupe is virtually devoid of life, after years of brutal gang rule

Fear: Residents are too afraid to walk the streets, for fear they will be kidnapped and tortured

Read this article:
Inside Mexico's Juarez Valley - one of the deadliest places on earth